MATCH INFO

Hiroshima, Japan, November 9, 2011 - After resting their stars in a relatively easy win versus Algeria, Japan was firing on all cylinders against a strong Dominican team, winning 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-26). Back in the 2009 Grand Champions Cup the Dominicans had beaten Japan to win their first FIVB medal (bronze), so this was not a match the home side intended to take lightly.

Bethania De La Cruz de Peña started the day as the tournaments leading scorer with 79 points in four matches, but she was held to 15, a strong performance, but less than her average. For Japan, they were led by Yukiko Ebata and Saori Kimura with 16 and 12 respectively. Nana Iwasaki was outstanding as well with 11 points, including three aces and four blocks.

Brenda Castillo was a surprise start for the Dominicans, having seemingly completed previous internal disciplinary action.

Prisilla Rivera opened well for the Dominicans with a pair of clever tips at the net, followed by an ace to put her side up two. The tandem of De La Cruz and Cindy Carolina Rondon Martinez were blocking well up front, stopping Saori and Ebata on consecutive points. But the latter Japanese attacker would rebound, posting six points before the second TTO to take Japan ahead 16-14. From there it was all Ebata, who showed no signs of rust after coach Masayoshi Manabe rested her on Tuesday. She amazingly posted five more (for 11 in the set) to help Japan close a tough opening set 25-20.

De La Cruz woke up in the second scoring three straight points early capped by an ace to give the Dominicans the edge. They stayed ahead until mid-set when Japan’s Saori got going and threw down three in a row to go up 16-15. That started a run where the home side snatched eight of 10 points to take command of the set. Iwasaki added her third ace of the match to help down the stretch, as Japan took the second 25-19.

Rivera, held to five through two sets, let out some frustration in a blistering drive that knocked over Risa Shinnabe for a point. But it didn’t faze Japan who responded by taking the next six points, including an incredible three aces by the tiny Yoshie Takeshita (Japan had six aces in the match) to go up 14-7. The usually high-scoring De La Cruz finally got going with four heavy spikes down the stretch. But it was too little too late, as attacks from Saori and substitution Mai Yamaguchi closed it out in three sets for the home team 25-16.